South Korean riot police officers spray a water cannon as police officers try to break up protesters who try to march to the Presidential House after a rally against government policy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. Police fired tear gas and water cannons Saturday as they clashed with anti-government demonstrators who marched through Seoul in what was believed to be the largest protest in South Korea’s capital in more than seven years. AP Photo
SEOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s Justice Minister issued a fresh warning Friday of zero tolerance towards violence during street protests, ahead of a planned anti-government demonstration in Seoul next week.
In a nationally televised address, Kim Hyun-Woong said the government was determined to “eradicate” any public disorder and stressed that violators would “pay the price.”
Kim had issued a similar warning before a huge anti-government rally in Seoul on November 14 that drew around 60,000 people and saw numerous clashes between protestors and police who used pepper spray and water cannon to maintain order.
Activists have called for a similar demonstration on December 5.
The focus of the protests is quite wide, incorporating opposition to labour reforms, the opening of the agricultural sector and plans to impose government-issued history textbooks on schools.
President Park Geun-Hye condemned the November 14 protest as an effort to “deny the rule of law” and urged strong measures against those identified as inciting violence.
Park also said the wearing of masks by protestors should be prohibited, saying it was the sort of practise adopted by the Islamic State jihadi group.
Her ruling conservative Saenuri Party on Wednesday tabled a bill in parliament to ban such masks.
The November 14 protest was led by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the federation of farmers’ associations, known as Junnong.
KCTU President Han Sang-Kyun, who police accuse of inciting violence during the rally, has been taking refuge inside a major Buddhist temple in Seoul for the past two weeks.
The justice minister urged Han to surrender, warning that anyone who helped him escape police would be arrested.
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